Why aren’t all OVO electricity plans 100% renewable?

We want to offer as much renewable energy as we can, to as many people as possible, at the most affordable price.

Doing the right thing for the people and planet has been right at the core of our sustainability focus since we launched. It’s a balance between how to best meet people’s needs today, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.*

Some niche suppliers in the market offer only 100% renewable power, often based on electricity they generate themselves. While we support their commitment, we want to offer as much renewable energy as we can, to as many people as possible, at the most affordable price.

We call it ‘mainstream green’.

That means providing renewable and lower-carbon options for as many people as possible in the future, while making sure our 100% renewable electricity plan is as price-competitive as possible today.

However, we know that people have different budgets and different priorities. That’s why every OVO plan contains at least 33% renewable electricity.

Why is your renewable option not as cheap as your other plans?

Because renewable electricity costs us more.Although improvements are happening fast, most renewable generation technologies are still developing to maturity. For the moment, they need extra help to get on an even footing with dirtier technologies that have been around longer and have historically received huge financial support, largely in the form of big tax breaks. This means, although costs are coming down in lots of places, renewable electricity still costs a bit more. In the long run of course, renewables should be cheaper, as they aren’t finite or vulnerable to supply risks like fossil fuels. It’s also worth mentioning that while you see the extra cost of renewables on your bills, the extra costs of fossil fuels are hidden.

These hidden costs include:

Historical government support (mostly in the form of tax breaks), the health impacts of pollution

National security issues around fuels sourced from unstable parts of the world

The cost of adapting to climate change

Extreme weather which we’re already seeing at home and abroad

Though none of these are itemised on your bill, they are part of the cost of an energy system that relies heavily on fossil fuels. It’s worth considering this when you choose your energy plan.

*In 1987 the Brundtland commission defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.Source: “Our Common Future”, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987 published as Annex to General Assembly document A/42/427, Development and International Co-operation: Environment August 2, 1987

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